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O Thou Incomparable God! O Thou Lord of the Kingdom! These souls
are Thy heavenly army. Assist them and with the cohorts of the Supreme
Concourse, make them victorious; so that each one of them may become
like unto a regiment and conquer these countries through the love of God
and the illumination of divine teachings.
O God! Be Thou their supporter and their helper, and in the wilderness,
the mountain, the valley, the forests, the prairies and the seas, be
Thou their confidant--so that they may cry out through the power of the
Kingdom and the breath of the Holy Spirit!
Verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and the Omnipotent and Thou
art the Wise, the Hearing, and the Seeing.
--&Abdu'l-Baha (April 8, 1916)
+P1
PART I:
Letters to Individuals, 1939-1943. These were written prior
to the formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly and
reflect the early development of the Faith in Alaska.
+P2
+P3
(1) March 12, 1939+F1
Dear &Baha'i Friend,
The Guardian has received your most welcome and inspiring message
of the 19th February, and is inexpressibly delighted to know that you have
spontaneously offered your services for pioneer teaching in Alaska.+E1 He
can well imagine the feelings of immeasurable satisfaction and unbounded
gratitude with which both the N.S.A. and the National Teaching
Committee must have welcomed your determination to teach and establish
the Faith in that far-off and hitherto unexplored territory, and he
wishes me to express also his own appreciation and gratitude for this
remarkable step which you have, notwithstanding the well-nigh insuperable
obstacles in your way, been inspired to take to carry the Message to
that distant land. The spirit of heroic self-sacrifice, and of unflinching
resolve that has prompted you to undertake so noble and sacred a mission,
and make such a warm and immediate response to his recent teaching call
addressed to the American believers cannot but fill all hearts with admiration
and praise, and evoke the memory of those acts of unrivalled
heroism, of selfless and unstinted devotion that have characterized the
lives of the immortal heroes of the Apostolic age of our beloved Faith.
Though labouring in an age and under circumstances wholly different
from those in which those early pioneers of the Cause have been
privileged to labour, yet it is that selfsame spirit of entire
self-forgetfulness, of whole-hearted and unwavering loyalty, and of absolute
consecration that is now, in this Formative period, inspiring you, and all
our dear American &Baha'i pioneers, to forsake their all and undergo such
privations and suffering in order to speed up and ensure the triumph of the
Cause of God.
+F1 All of the messages in this book are numbered sequentially for the
+F1 convenience of the reader and as an aid in indexing. The numbers appear
+F1 before the date of each letter. The Editors.
+P4
Rest assured that the Guardian will incessantly and most fervently
supplicate on your behalf, that the invisible hosts of the Kingdom may
continually reinforce and guide your efforts, and enable you to attain this
assuredly high and noble goal you have set yourself to attain in service to
&Baha'u'llah and His Cause.
In the hope that this letter will find you well, happy and well on the way
of the realization of your plans, and with most cordial greetings,
bearing in mind that faith and belief are different from learning and a full
grasp of the implications of such a vast Cause as ours.
You may be sure his loving prayers will be offered for the success of
your historic mission, and he will be interested to hear how you are
progressing.
With &Baha'i love,
R. Rabbani
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my abiding gratitude and appreciation for the
magnificent services you are rendering, and for the laudable spirit you
are demonstrating in your historic activities and achievements in these
days of stress and peril, and assuring you also of my special and constant
prayers for the success of every effort you exert, and every step you take
in the path of service,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
*
*
(6) October 14, 1943
R. Rabbani
*
You may be sure that his loving prayers will surround you and all the
friends, as they labour to carry the Faith throughout Alaskan territory,
and to hasten the day when it will have its own independent National
Spiritual Assembly.
With &Baha'i love,
R. Rabbani
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless your efforts, guide your steps, and enable you to
win great victories in the service of His Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
*
country. All these efforts will hasten the day when Alaska will have its
own National Spiritual Assembly.
His prayers are ever with the friends as they pursue their noble task.
With warm &Baha'i greetings,
R. Rabbani
+P22
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my loving prayers for the success of your deeply appreciated
endeavours for the promotion of our beloved Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
*
idea of the book published in English entitled: "A &Baha'i Child's Song
Book," where you feel that is desirable.
The Guardian greatly values the services of your Committee in their
devoted efforts to bring the Faith to the native people of Alaska, and
assures you of his prayers for the abundant success of your labours.
With warm &Baha'i greetings,
R. Rabbani
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless, guide and sustain you, and enable you to enrich
the record of your splendid services to His Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
*
will rise to great heights, in the days to come, in their teaching activities.
With warm &Baha'i greetings,
R. Rabbani
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless your efforts, guide your steps, and aid you to
promote, at all times, the vital interests of His Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
*
When these steps are followed in the realm of self-sacrifice, success will
be achieved.
The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf. He sends his
loving greetings.
Faithfully yours,
Leroy Ioas
*
Leroy Ioas
*
loving parent, watching over and helping its children, and not like a stern
judge, waiting for an opportunity to display his judicial powers. The
reason he points this out to you is that constantly, for the past twenty years
and more, he has been pointing this out to the old and tried National
Assemblies, and he does not want the younger bodies to make the same
mistakes. Individual cases should be dealt with as they arise, according to
the Teachings, of which the believers have quite sufficient available to
handle all of their problems at this time, and no more additional rules and
regulations need be introduced.
The friends should be helped to overcome their problems, deepen in
the Faith, and increase their unity and their love for each other. In this
way you will find that your work goes ahead speedily, and that the
National Body is like the beating of a healthy heart in the midst of the
Community, pumping spiritual love, energy and encouragement out to all
the members.
+P36
As regards the question you asked about a Summer School, there is no
reason why a property should either be rented or bought for this purpose.
You can arrange to hold a Summer School in any suitable place where the
friends can find accommodation, and a hall can be rented for its sessions.
This is what they have done in England for many years to great advantage.
It is a simple and economical way of holding the School. The primary
purpose of the School is to deepen the knowledge of the friends in the
Teachings, to enable them to consort, as &Baha'is, with each other, and to
confirm any contacts who may have attended. The School may be held
during the winter season or any other time of the year.
As regards local endowments, these can be a piece of land, or a
building offered or purchased in any place in Alaska. However, as the
friends have six years in which to accomplish their Plan, and the most
important work of all is the teaching work, he would not advise that they
begin by spending their money on these projects, unless somebody has a
piece of land or a building which they wish to give. The site for the
Temple is much more important. It should be near the capital of Alaska
within easy distance, or preferably in it, so that the friends can gather
there, when the Temple is built for their services. If the twenty-acre
National Endowment is suitably close to the city, it can be used as the
Temple site, and another piece of land, smaller in area, and anywhere in
Alaska, be acquired as the National Endowment.
He is delighted to see that you are approaching your tasks with so much
enthusiasm, and awaits news of wonderful victories from that promising
northern territory.
He feels your Assembly should bear in mind, and call to the attention
of the friends, the importance of the Iron Curtain territories not yet open.
Whoever feels the urge to dedicate themselves to arising and going to one
of the satellites or republics of the Soviet Union, should be encouraged to
do so.
He hopes to receive much good news during the coming months of the
progress of the work there, and assures you all of his prayers for your
success.
With loving greetings,
R. Rabbani
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers:
The formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the &Baha'is of
Alaska signalizes the erection of yet another pillar designed to support,
and reinforce the foundation of the future Universal House of Justice,
+P37
*
(45) July 14, 1957
The beloved Guardian has received your letter of June 15th, in which
you quoted the cablegram sent by your Assembly to &Iran; and has
+P40
instructed me to acknowledge it on his behalf, and to tell you he greatly
appreciates your prompt response to his request.
With warm &Baha'i greetings,
R. Rabbani
*
*
(48) August 15, 1957
The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you that he was very
happy to note from your recent letter the practical way the National
Assembly has gone about settling their goals for this year, and will pray
for their success.
He deeply appreciates the gift Mrs. Huffman and her husband have
made of the Temple site for Alaska. This fulfills one of Alaska's important
goals--only a few months after the birth of the new National
Spiritual Assembly.
With loving &Baha'i greetings,
R. Rabbani
*
*
(54) October 20, 1957
pioneer.
He was also delighted to hear Mr. Oliver is anxious to translate some of
the Writings into Eskimo; please assure him this would be rendering both
the Eskimos and the Cause a great service. If anything is printed in that
language the Guardian would like to receive copies for the libraries here.
He hopes through the "Arctic Trails Shopping Service" you will be
able to demonstrate the fairness, uprightness, and nobility of the adherents
of the &Baha'i Faith to the people it deals with, as this will more than
anything else attract their attention to the Faith.
As to your own plans: if you are absolutely certain that your departure
from Alaska will not in any way affect the stability of the Cause there, he
approves of your suggestion that you go to Europe and assist the work
there. If, on your way, you could visit and do some teaching in England it
would help the British &Baha'is very much, as they are embarking on a
very heavy teaching schedule. He will pray that your family there may
become attracted to the Faith.
Assuring you of his deep appreciation of your wonderful services and
his loving prayers.
Yours in the Faith,
R. Rabbani
P.S.--If Mr. Oliver would begin by translating even a small pamphlet
into Eskimo at once this would be a much appreciated service. Please
send him some printed copies as soon as available. Please assure this
dear friend that his service is highly meritorious.
+P48
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my deepfelt and abiding gratitude for the splendid and
historic services you have rendered our beloved Faith and of my constant
prayers for the extension of your valued activities, and the realization of
every hope you cherish for the advancement of its institutions,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
*
service from the depths of my heart. Persevere in your historic task, rest
assured, and be happy.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
*
The work on the dome of the Shrine is going forward quite satisfactorily.
The brim of the dome has been finished. As additional units of the
building are completed, it adds to the stateliness of the entire structure,
and permits one to realize how beautiful it is going to be.
The Guardian very deeply appreciates the wonderful work you are
doing in connection with the spread of the Faith.
The Eskimo booklet which you submitted for his approval he feels
should be submitted to the National Spiritual Assembly of the &Baha'is of
the United States for their review. The reason for this is that they are
closely in touch with the teaching work, and therefore well qualified to
decide just what should and what should not be included in such a
pamphlet.
He hopes you and Frances Wells will work very closely with the
National Spiritual Assembly in connection with this important service.
The Guardian is extremely anxious that the Eskimos be brought into
the Faith. He values very highly indeed the very wonderful services
rendered by Mrs. Wells. He feels that she has sacrificed very deeply in
order to carry the light of guidance to the seeking peoples of the world,
particularly in Alaska, and now with the Eskimos. You may be sure the
Guardian will pray for her spiritual success and her spiritual happiness.
The Guardian will likewise be very happy to pray for Mrs. Hadley
+P52
Ferguson of Fairbanks, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Greene, Mr. and Mrs. L.E.
Pirkey, Mrs. Perry Bane, and Dr. Saul Mackoff.
The Guardian has communicated with the National Spiritual Assembly
with regard to the efforts being made by yourself and Mrs. Wells as well
as others in connection with the introduction of the Faith amongst the
Eskimos, asking them to render every possible assistance to this most
important work. It is impossible to let you know how important the
Guardian feels the introduction of the Faith amongst the Eskimos is at this
particular time.
With warm &Baha'i greetings,
Leroy Ioas
Assistant Secretary
P.S.--The draft of your pamphlet is being sent direct to the National
Spiritual Assembly.
*
touch with the ramifications of the Campaign, and are qualified to give
sound advice.
So far as your personal affairs are concerned, the Guardian assures you
of his prayers in your behalf, that they may be clarified for you. Of course
the question of love and marriage is something that can only be determined
by the individual.
So far as the publication of the pamphlet in Eskimo is concerned, it
probably would be advisable for you to write the National Assembly on
this important matter, asking them what the present status is, and if you
can assist in any way.
With loving &Baha'i greetings, I am,
Faithfully yours,
Leroy Ioas
Secretary-General
*
this would be the greatest service you could render at this time.
Assuring you of his appreciation of your devotion to the Faith, and of
his prayers for your success,
With loving greetings,
R. Rabbani
+P60
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my loving prayers for your success and spiritual advancement,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
*
difficulties, and enable you to promote effectively the vital interests of His
Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
+P63
PART IV:
Telegrams to Pioneers.
+P64
+P65
(78) To a Knight of &Baha'u'llah arriving at Kodiak:
July 14, 1953
ASSURE FERVENT PRAYERS. SHOGHI
+P68
+P69
(81) ALASKA--Important
Your letter to our beloved Guardian was received, dated September
10th, and he is very happy to welcome you into the service of this glorious
Faith, and especially to see that you are going to serve in Alaska, a
country to which he attaches great importance.
(82) ALASKA--Incorporation of L.S.A. and growth
He was also delighted to hear of the incorporation of Anchorage. The
Faith is certainly going ahead by leaps and bounds in the "barren North"!
(83) ALASKA--Spirit of confidence
He was delighted with all the good news you conveyed of the progress
of the Cause in Alaska, the radio broadcasts, the new believers, and the
spirit of confidence and devotion which animates you all in serving our
precious Faith.
(84) ALASKA--Unity of believers
He was very happy to hear of the unity of the Alaskan &Baha'is; they are
a Community particularly dear to his heart, and he hopes that in the years
to come the Cause will make remarkable progress in that land.
(85) ANTI-CHRIST
We do not believe in Anti-Christ in the sense the Christians do. Anyone
who violently and determinedly sought to oppose the Manifestation could
be called an "anti-Christ," such as the &Vazir in the &Bab's day, &Haji &Mirza
&Aqasi.
(86) CHRIST--RESURRECTION
We do not believe that there was a bodily resurrection after the
+P70
crucifixion of Christ, but that there was a time after His ascension when
His disciples perceived spiritually His true greatness and realized He was
eternal in being. This is what has been reported symbolically in the New
Testament and been misunderstood. His eating with His disciples after
resurrection is the same thing.
(87) CHRIST--Virgin Birth
What science calls a virgin birth we do not associate with that of Jesus
Christ, which we believe to have been a miracle and a sign of His
Prophethood. In this matter we are in entire agreement with the most
orthodox church views.
(88) FEAR--Overcoming fear
He will certainly pray that you may entirely over-come your fear-complex.
When you concentrate your thoughts on realizing that you now
belong to &Baha'u'llah, are His servant whom He loves and will always
help, if you ask Him to, and that the great spiritual strength of the Cause
of God is behind you for you to draw upon, you will soon see your fears
melting away.
(89) FOOD-Storage
With regard to the storing of food--this is something which the
Spiritual Assembly will have to determine, based on local conditions; and
based on discussions with Local Authorities. The Guardian feels it is not
a subject which can be generally legislated upon.
(90) GOD--Nature of our Knowledge
We find God only through the Intermediary of His Prophet. We see the
Perfection of God in His Prophets. Time and space are physical things;
God, the Creator, is not a "place" as we conceive of place in physical
terms. God is the Infinite Essence, the Creator. We cannot picture Him or
His state, but if we did, we would be His equals, not His creatures. God is
never flesh, but mirrored in the attributes of His Prophets we see His
Divine characteristics and perfections.
(91) IMMORTALITY--Cause of Happiness
He will pray for the progress and happiness of the soul of your dear
daughter in the invisible, spiritual worlds. He feels your attitude in this
physical separation from her is exemplary, and is causing her great
happiness now.
+P71
(92) INVESTMENTS
He leaves such matters as investments, etc., to the discretion of
individuals who are free to consult experts and make their own decisions,
and he feels this applies also to the shares in the prospective oil land which
you asked his advice about.
(93) MANIFESTATIONS--Future Manifestations
The bud, the flower, the fruit are only symbols to convey to us the sense
of the progress being made by man in receiving ever fuller Revelations
from God. In spite of the vast spiritual significance of what &Baha'u'llah
has brought to the world we humans have infinite progress to make in the
future. Future Prophets will bring us new laws suitable to our state of
development and continue to educate us on this planet, but they will be
under the shadow of &Baha'u'llah for five thousand centuries.
(94) PHOTOGRAPHS--of the Master
There is no objection to your copying pictures of the Master for your
friends, but do not do it on a wholesale scale. He has always preferred that
the friends should have the Master's photo rather than his own.
(95) PRAYER
We cannot know God directly, but only through His Prophets. We can
pray to Him, realizing that through His Prophets we know Him, or we can
address our prayer in thought to &Baha'u'llah, not as God, but as the Door
to our knowing God.
(96) PRE-EXISTENCE--of Prophets
The Prophets, unlike us, are pre-existent. The soul of Christ existed in
the spiritual world before His birth in this world. We cannot imagine what
that world is like, so words are inadequate to picture His state of being.
(97) JOSEPH SMITH--Statements in Book of Mormon
As there is nothing specific about Joseph Smith in the teachings, the
Guardian has no statement to make on his position or about the accuracy
of any statement in the Book of Mormon regarding American history or
its peoples. This is a matter for historians to pass upon.
(98) SOUL--Origin
The soul or spirit of the individual comes into being with the conception
of his physical body.
+P72
(99) STUDY
Shoghi Effendi advises you to study "Some Answered Questions" and
the "Dispensation of &Baha'u'llah" which help you to grasp these questions.
(100) TEACHINGS--Acceleration
The Guardian was very happy to learn that the teaching work in Alaska
is being accelerated. May the momentum being gained, not be lost, but
on the other hand intensified, so the forthcoming National Assembly may
have a wide and strong base.
The world is seeking for a solution for its increasing problems, and if
the friends arise with the dynamic spirit of the Faith, assured of final
victory, many seeking souls will enter the Faith, and find eternal life.
(101) TEACHING--Importance
The more one observes the conditions of the world and the terrible
problems confronting humanity, the more deeply one realizes that the
only remedy is that which &Baha'u'llah has brought, and yet, alas, the
masses of the people seem to not yet be aware that the way out of our
problems can only be a divine way, given by something far greater than
human understanding! However, many souls are seriously thinking and
seeking, and the &Baha'is must try to bring the knowledge of the teachings
to all, so that those prepared to accept may not be denied the Message.
(102) TEACHING--Participation of Children
He is happy that the children are being attracted. They are the pillars
of the future, and should be trained and encouraged in every way, to learn
the details of the teachings, and how to teach others. For the true source of
existence is the diffusing of Glad Tidings.
(103) TEACHING--Remaining at Post
He would certainly advise you to remain in Alaska and continue to
teach and give the small but devoted Community there your active
support.
(104) TEACHING--Teaching Relatives
He would not advise you to in any way force the teachings on your
husband, but rather through prayer, love and example attract his heart to
what he will be forced to see has not only made you a happier person
+P73
but a better wife and mother than ever before. It is often most difficult to
teach those nearest to us, but the Guardian will earnestly pray that your
husband and children will join you in serving this wonderful Cause.
+P74
+P75
APPENDIX:
+P76
+P77
NOTES
1. (Letter No. 1) Honor Kempton was the first Pioneer to Alaska under
the first Seven Year Plan.
2. (Letter No. 2) Janet Whitenack (Stout) was the first person to enroll
in the Faith in Alaska during the first Seven Year Plan.
3. (Letter No. 4) Janet Whitenack (Stout) had secured a school teaching
position in the village of Tuluksak on the Kuskokwim River.
4. (Letter No. 5) Melba Call (King) was the first Eskimo to become a
&Baha'i. While she was born and raised in Alaska, she was residing in New
Mexico when she heard of the Faith and became a &Baha'i.
5. (Letter No. 17) Based on these directions from the Guardian, the
first &Haziratu'l-Quds was purchased inside the City limits at 810-8th
Avenue. At that time (1955) the population of Anchorage was less than
25,000 concentrated around what is now downtown Anchorage. Following
the earthquake in 1964, it was necessary to abandon the original
&Haziratu'l-Quds. The property was sold for $20,000 and a diligent
year-long effort was made to find a suitable replacement. Nothing appropriate
could be found inside the city limits within the price range.
Guidance was requested from the Universal House of Justice. In a letter
dated May 11, 1965, they stated the following, "...we feel that it is
more important that you should acquire a national &Haziratu'l-Quds for
Honor
Janet
Honor
Janet
Kempton
B. Whitenack (Stout)
Kempton
B. Whitenack (Stout)
5.
6.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
family
Moul
family
Moul
family
family
Wells